Jim Lewis, owner of triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, hopes Impek might line up in the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

Having returned to the fray with a runaway victory in the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter in October, the 11-year-old, trained by Henrietta Knight at West Lockinge, near Wantage, sustained a season-ending injury.

The gelding is reportedly doing well in his recovery, however, and while Lewis is mindful that he is now getting on in years, he hopes retirement is not beckoning just yet.

"He won the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter and then we originally thought there was something wrong with his shoulder," he explained.

"It was actually a hairline fracture of his cannon bone, so he's obviously had to be laid off, but he's doing well and, all being well, he'll run in November.

"He might follow the same pattern, but he has age against him now as he's 11.

"But he'll hopefully be back and who knows, he's already jumped two and a half miles at Aintree, so if I can persuade Henrietta, then he might well turn up for the Grand National next year."

ALFADORA, who broke his duck for Milton Harris's Edgcote stables, near Banbury, with victory at Kempton on Saturday, completed a quickfire double by scoring at Fontwell yesterday.